DRESDEN—The New York-based Shen Yun Touring Company brought their unique blend of Chinese classical dance to the Dresden Kulturpalast for a second year, on April 14.
This year’s opening show was filled to capacity, with an enthusiastic audience honoring the artists with thunderous applause throughout the performance, three curtain calls and a standing ovation before the last curtain fell.
In the audience were Inga Zich, a native of Kazakhstan, and fashion designer, and her husband, Alexej Zich, marketing manager. Both own the fashion house Individoo, located in downtown Dresden.
They sell one-of-a-kind dresses, wedding gowns and dresses that were worn during the middle ages. Dresden brides love old-fashioned dresses, especially those which have their origin deep in that part of history.
“It was fascinating,” said Mr. Zich. “I was very impressed and this is what I wanted to tell someone else besides my wife.”
After a little afterthought, he continued, “I was most fascinated by the positive energy, which was very energetic, fun-loving and full of life. There was so much positive energy. This is what impressed me a lot.”
Ethnic Chinese dance was for him somehow different to what he had been exposed to in his past.
“Chinese folklore is different from other cultures. It appears to me that they have a lot of joy in life, and this is what helps these people to go on and survive despite all the difficulties.”
Having come from a background quite like present-day China, he said, “We have experienced a similar system to the one you can find in today’s China. I can understand what the people in China feel today. It is similar to what we experienced in Eastern Germany. We had the same political system.”
Mr. Zich referred to what he learned through the scene Astounding Conviction where the curtain opens on a lone man in Tiananmen Square, holding a banner that says “Falun Dafa is Good.” With these simple words of affirmation, he peacefully expresses his opposition to the government policy of persecution that targets his faith.
His wife joined in the discussion and said, “The colors are wonderful, especially when it comes to the color combination. They are the opposite from depressing and pessimism. They are so beautiful.”
Then she spoke of the dance Flowing Silk which is often called ‘water sleeves.’ This is a popular concept in Chinese classical dance.
The scenes were enhanced by a state-of-the-art backdrop which showed pictures of Chinese landscapes, highlighting what was seen on stage.
“The silk dance was marvelous. The background enhanced the entire scene. The flowing materials were of great importance to the dance and emphasized the dance movements.”
Given her background in fashion design she emphasized that “one has to keep in mind the movements when producing such silk costumes for the dancer. And silk is especially very difficult to handle when one sews ... Flowing materials are difficult to work with.”
The costumes’ colors dazzled her eyes. “Did you notice the coloring technique? How one color runs into the other? This is true art. This is very difficult. I would love to do this someday. This desire is on my list of things to do.”
Finishing off her thought, she added, “The show was very inspirational for my work. This is truly something very spontaneous.”
With reporting by Nina Hamrle.
The next stop of the Shen Yun Performing Arts European 2010 World Tour is Vienna Austria, where the Shen Yun artists will perform at the Stadthalle Vienna in Hall F on April 17 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
This year’s opening show was filled to capacity, with an enthusiastic audience honoring the artists with thunderous applause throughout the performance, three curtain calls and a standing ovation before the last curtain fell.
In the audience were Inga Zich, a native of Kazakhstan, and fashion designer, and her husband, Alexej Zich, marketing manager. Both own the fashion house Individoo, located in downtown Dresden.
They sell one-of-a-kind dresses, wedding gowns and dresses that were worn during the middle ages. Dresden brides love old-fashioned dresses, especially those which have their origin deep in that part of history.
“It was fascinating,” said Mr. Zich. “I was very impressed and this is what I wanted to tell someone else besides my wife.”
After a little afterthought, he continued, “I was most fascinated by the positive energy, which was very energetic, fun-loving and full of life. There was so much positive energy. This is what impressed me a lot.”
Ethnic Chinese dance was for him somehow different to what he had been exposed to in his past.
“Chinese folklore is different from other cultures. It appears to me that they have a lot of joy in life, and this is what helps these people to go on and survive despite all the difficulties.”
Having come from a background quite like present-day China, he said, “We have experienced a similar system to the one you can find in today’s China. I can understand what the people in China feel today. It is similar to what we experienced in Eastern Germany. We had the same political system.”
Mr. Zich referred to what he learned through the scene Astounding Conviction where the curtain opens on a lone man in Tiananmen Square, holding a banner that says “Falun Dafa is Good.” With these simple words of affirmation, he peacefully expresses his opposition to the government policy of persecution that targets his faith.
His wife joined in the discussion and said, “The colors are wonderful, especially when it comes to the color combination. They are the opposite from depressing and pessimism. They are so beautiful.”
Then she spoke of the dance Flowing Silk which is often called ‘water sleeves.’ This is a popular concept in Chinese classical dance.
The scenes were enhanced by a state-of-the-art backdrop which showed pictures of Chinese landscapes, highlighting what was seen on stage.
“The silk dance was marvelous. The background enhanced the entire scene. The flowing materials were of great importance to the dance and emphasized the dance movements.”
Given her background in fashion design she emphasized that “one has to keep in mind the movements when producing such silk costumes for the dancer. And silk is especially very difficult to handle when one sews ... Flowing materials are difficult to work with.”
The costumes’ colors dazzled her eyes. “Did you notice the coloring technique? How one color runs into the other? This is true art. This is very difficult. I would love to do this someday. This desire is on my list of things to do.”
Finishing off her thought, she added, “The show was very inspirational for my work. This is truly something very spontaneous.”
With reporting by Nina Hamrle.
The next stop of the Shen Yun Performing Arts European 2010 World Tour is Vienna Austria, where the Shen Yun artists will perform at the Stadthalle Vienna in Hall F on April 17 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm.
For more information, please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org
